How to Eat Fried Worms
About
Because of a bet, Billy is in the uncomfortable position of having to eat fifteen worms in fifteen days. The worms are supplied by his opponent, whose motto is "The bigger and juicier, the better!" At first Billy's problem is whether or not he can swallow the worm placed before him, even with a choice of condiments from peanut butter to horseradish. But later it looks as if Billy will win, and the challenge becomes getting to the worm to eat it.
Read one section at a time, then discuss the questions to review understanding. These questions are a starting place for conversation, not a complete test of the chapter.
Chapter 1
Comprehension questions
What started the bet?
Page 1 — Tom wouldn’t eat his dinner the night before
1
What was the bet?
Page 5 — Billy would eat 15 worms for $50
5
Chapters 2 & 3
Comprehension questions
Why didn’t Tom think it was fair for Alan and Joe to get the first worm out of the manure pile?
Page 6 — It wasn’t fair to ask Billy to eat a worm with manure on it; it’s unsafe and disgusting
6
What type of worm did Alan and Joe choose as the first worm Billy should eat?
Page 9 — A night crawler
9
Chapter 4
Comprehension questions
What’s Billy’s motivation for eating 15 worms?
Page 15 — He wants to buy a minibike
15
Why did Billy pretend to be crazy after eating the first worm?
Page 17 — To tease and scare his friends
17
Would you bet eating 15 worms if you could get $50?
Listen to your child’s answer
Chapters 5-9
Comprehension questions
Why doesn’t Billy like eating the worms?
Page 27 — He doesn’t like the thought of them
27
Is Tom being a good friend to Billy?
Page 28 — Listen to your child’s response
28
Chapters 10-12
Comprehension questions
Why did Tom think Joe was lying about his dad and mom?
Page 39 — He saw they were laughing when they were trying to fake sneeze
39
Does Billy believe Tom?
Page 40 — Sort of
40
Why didn’t Tom want to eat the worm Billy challenged him to eat?
Page 44 — It’s yucky and gross
44
Chapters 13-15
Comprehension questions
Why is Alan concerned about losing the bet?
Page 49 — He knew his dad wouldn’t let him get his money out of the bank
49
Why did Billy’s father think Billy’s stomach was upset?
Page 57 — He ate too much ketchup and mustard
57
What conclusion can be drawn from Billy’s father calling Poison Control?
Page 58 — Worms aren’t poisonous or harmful to eat
58
Chapters 16-19
Comprehension questions
Why doesn’t Billy have any problems eating worms now?
Page 62 — He’s not scared they’re going to hurt him anymore
62
How did Alan and Joe try to cheat?
Page 64 — Glued two worms together
64
Chapters 20-21
Comprehension questions
Why did Alan and Joe come to visit Billy’s mom?
Page 70 — They wanted to let her know about the bet (hoping it would ruin it) and asked her to referee Billy while they were gone
70
How did Billy’s mom cook the worms?
Page 75 — His dad suggested using a French cookbook and she made Alsatian Smothered Worm
75
Did Billy’s family react the way Alan and Joe hoped they would?
Page 75 — No
75
Chapters 22-27
Comprehension questions
How did Alan and Joe distract Billy?
Page 80 — Taking him to Shea Stadium and filling him up with all sorts of yummy junk food until almost midnight
80
Who reminded Billy of the bet?
Page 83 — His mom
83
Who found the thirteenth worm?
Page 85 — Pete, Tom’s little brother
85
Chapters 28-31
Comprehension questions
What was the consequence of Alan and Joe trying to trick and distract Billy?
Page 91 — They had to go to each neighbor and apologize for Billy waking them up in the middle of the night with the siren; no television or dessert for a month; no allowance for two weeks
91
What did the dads do after the boys got in a fight?
Page 96 — Sat them down, made them talk things out, then took them for ice cream
96
What was the letter that was sent to Mrs. Forrester?
Page 98 — A letter from their doctor saying he’d read that eating worms was bad for you
98
Chapters 32-41
Comprehension questions
How did Mr. Forrester know the letter was a fake?
Page 101 — Alan and Joe used words with the wrong definitions
101
How did Billy know the 15th worm Alan and Joe gave him was a fake?
Page 105 — He burped up beans instead of worm
105
Who gave Billy the fifteenth worm?
Page 115 — Tom’s little brother again, Pete
115
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Worksheets
Practice sheets with space to write your answers.
Download one reading section
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